7 Comments

General CommentI'm beginning to think that it may refer to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), or "crib death."

Referring to the lyrics:

"Cross over and turn"...

This may be alluding to the child's "crossing over" into the next realm. In relation to that, the "turn" may refer to the child turning over on its stomach - this is how we often find the late infants when they have passed.

The second verse is the parent(s) feeling the spot in the crib where they left their child before going to bed.

"...don't let it burn."

Mimi is encouraging the audience to not blame themselves.

This also segues into the upcoming verses:

"We all want, we all yearn..."
"Be soft, don't be stern..."

This refers to the parents' grief and, yet, that one must not be stern on oneself, but use compassion bred to mourn the child lost.

This all concludes with the final sequence:

"Lullaby...
"Was not supposed to make you cry...
"I sang the words...
"I sang."

It still ends in a melancholy regret, where the parent remembers the final lullaby he or she gave to the child before their eyes closed.

@jordan8856 I really like your interpretation, being an R.N. (Labor & Delivery) I also thought & agree with a lot you've stated. My personal ciphering of the verse "feel the spot don't let it burn" was possibly about a sick child, one with a high fever. My second interpretation of the song was that it may have been about a past pregnancy which had miscarried or was aborted & there's still tremendous grief or regrets.

General CommentSeems to be a song about how writing music (or anything, really) about someone can have some harsh emotional consequences for the party involved. Interesting especially because this is on Low's first album. Maybe Mimi is directing this to Alan?

My OpinionI just recently found this song and have listened to it a lot recently.

I actually was sure that the lyrics said: "Feel the spark, don't let it burn", I was searching the web to confirm my opinion. After being burned in relationships enough, I am happy with just the feel of the spark. But, "spot" it is then :)

For me the song is about change. I did not interpret the word "lullaby" as literally as jordan8856... I do think that his/her interpretation is very good, if bit too heavy for me.

I like to keep more open interpretation myself. The change can be anything. "I sang the words I meant" meaning for me that sometimes you have to be honest to yourself even if you might hurt others in the process.